Jim Bishop from Colton's Corner takes a lot of pride in his apples and pears. If you are fortunate enough to see him at one of the several farmers' markets where he sells them, you'll see an number immaculate varieties, all laid out in beautiful old wooden crates that Jim maintains by hand. Colton's Corner is an apple and pear orchard located on 25 acres in Cheshire, CT. The orchard has 500 to 600 trees and has been in his family for 34 years. Everyone in the family helps with the orchard, especially Jim's wife who assists with the apple harvest and is a major contributor in managing their business.

Colton's Corner sells a number of varieties of apples, many of which you can't find just anywhere. For example, Jim's red delicious apples are an older variety that is sweeter and more tart than the ordinary store-bought one. Other varieties include macoun, portland, red rome, macintosh, empire, and opalescent, which is excellent for cooking and baking. Colton's Corner continues to expand, as well. Jim planted 128 new macoun trees this year and will be planting honey crisp next year. Visit Colton's Corner stand at one of several farmers' markets and Jim can recommend an apple or pear for any occasion.

Click here for a chart of seasonality.